The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1887-01-05
CROSSE OF JERUSALEM"


blew across the barren, naked cliffs OF
the DEVILS river, and the barrener, barer
plains that stretched away as far as the
eve could reach. But the sky above
these arid deserts was of a dazzling hue,
and the waters of the river were as clear
As crystal. There is an Indian story
concerning the limpid clearness of this
stream.
The traveller, approaching ana seeing
the pebbly bottom ut n depth of-as he
thinks-two or three feet, boldly plunges
in, and goes down TO be seen no more.
Heucc its prettier, though more sugges-
tive, Indian name, THE Waters OF De
ccption.
Upon these arid, wind-swept prairieS
and cliffs one sees, here and there, balls
of what seem 10 be dried grasses, prob
ably rolled up together by the racing
northerS. These balls lodge in the cracks
and crcvIces of the cliffs, and become
more dry and dusty rs the winter season
advances.
The Younger of two men who appear
ed 30 he crossing the plains drew rein
and called his companions attention to
the dry and dusty balls that the wind
was driving before il.
What DO YOU suppose they are?"
asked the elder man.
launches OF grass or the withered re-
mains of birds nests. "
Birds nests, with not Il solitary tree
except yon scraggy mesquite in sight?"
said the other, racing his mustang after
ball flying by and catching it deity
as he leaned from his saddle. He re-
turned To his companion and threw it to
him. "ltis the Sempervircns, the Rose
of Jerusalem the RESURRECTION Plant -"
"a plantg This dry. dead bunch Of
withered grass and sticks!''
keep it until you get home-keep it
three months if you like, then put it into
saucer of water and see what hap
pens.
81 will send it to Narcissa." said the
Young man, putting it with several
Others into pocket. 'She has quite q
collection of curious plants already"
The Comte dc Saint-Cyr, the foremost
engineer OF the day, the prime mover in
The gigantic scheme of connecting the
Atlantic and Pacific by n canal through
the Tehuantepec isthmuS, was visiting
NJ dc Chalusse, an old friend of his, in
small town in southwestern Texas.
lily, the self-eXiled Comte dc ChalusSe
had come to Texas during the epidemic
ot emigration that swept over Germany
and France, when the ill-starred society
Of Meyence sent over enthusiastic Ger
mans 10y the shipload a friend of Salm-
Salin. Chalusse had visited the Sophien-
berg near Nassau, and shared with the
prince the vision of u future empire upon
the banks of the Llano and the Bio
Grande. When the society OF Meyence
failed, and Salm-Salm returned 10 his
Rhine castle leaving the Sophienberg
to the owls and bats, NJ. de Chalusse re-
turned TO san Antonio. and late in life
married u beautiful American from one
OF the southern states. When he heard
that the great engineer had come to
America. and was seriously undertaking
the task of cutting the great canal,
Chalusso wrote TO him, urging him ia
come to San Antonio for old friendship :
sake.
Saint-Cyr responded as cordially TO
tho cordial letter OF invitation, and, cur
ious to see his old friend, followed his
letter as soon as practicable.
The meeting was affecting. The ComtC
dc Chalusse poured out torrent of Qucs-
tons concerning his country, his old
home. Saint-Cyr recounted his trumphs,
his SORROWS. his joys. TWAS the meet
ing of brothers. A neat serving woman
brought in cake and wine. They did
not see he-.
After two or three hours of uninter-
rupted enjoyment, wherein both often
talked at once. Mime. dc Chalusse. still
n
appeared.
"Messieurs, / am sorry to disturb. but
dinner has been waiting for half an
hour" Then. seeing the untouched cake
and wine: "Edmonde, wonder at your
houghtlessness-M de Saint-Cyr must
be faint"
Chausse looked from the waiter TO
his wife in comical dismay, but Saint
Cyr replied, courteously:
MADAME, have thought of nothing
but the pleasure of seeing IN old friend
for the first time in thirty years"
''Haye you found him much changed
by his ill-fortuneF'
''Ul-fortune? Ny dear lady, consider
him the most fortunate of men. He
hasn't deserved such happiness.
His admiring glance pointed his re-
mark. The lady made some gay reply
aud the three went TO dinner.
The table was set in the courtyard OF
the house, which was built in the airy,
pleasant Mexican fashion. Large trees
that grew in the open space shaded the
improptu salle-a-manger, and flowers,
in pots of Mexican earthenware, bloom
cd upon the surrounding verandas and
balconies.
"Where Is NarcssaP" asked NJ dc
Chalusse as they took their seats.
AS he spoke young lady appeared
upon the upper piazza and presently
entered the courtyard a little out OF
breath. She was about 10 or 20 years OF
age, and fifty clad in summer white.
''My daughter, this is the old friend
of your father. the Comte dc Saint Cyr,
of whom you have heard so often.
This is my only child Rene"
Narclssa put out her hand and ex-
claimed:
Monsieur, is it possible? II you only
knew how delighted we are. We have
talked of nothing but you for the past
fVo months. i'm fapt avar Gin no x.ya Lnovy